With a formal report from a parish attorney in hand this morning, Jefferson Parish Aaron Broussard called on suspended chief administrative officer Tim Whitmer to answer its findings about his private insurance company doing business with parish contractors and public agencies.

Broussard said he gave Whitmer until Tuesday morning to respond, raising the prospect that he could discipline his top aide a day before the Parish Council plans to hold an investigative hearing on the matter.

Rusty Costanza / The Times-Picayune archiveTim and Dawn Whitmer leave the federal courthouse in New Orleans last month.

"The meeting today was the presentation of the report and the opportunity to give input, which extends until tomorrow morning," Broussard said. "At the conclusion of tomorrow morning . . . the consideration of disciplinary action would be appropriate."

Broussard put Whitmer on paid administrative leave last month after news media reports showed Whitmer's insurance agency, Lagniappe Industries, was doing business with parish contractors such as River Birch Inc., which struck a $6.9-million-a-year deal this summer to become Jefferson Parish's lone landfill.

Broussard said the formal report, prepared by Deputy Parish Attorney Louis Gruntz, expanded on an internal investigation dating to November, when The Times-Picayune disclosed Lagniappe was splitting commissions with B&A Insurane on policies sold to West Jfferson Medical Center employees. The hospital's contract with B&A forbade commission splitting.

Since then, media reports have shown Lagniappe was doing business with at least six companies that hold large contracts with Jefferson.

The FBI also is investigating.

Broussard said he hadn't contacted any Parish Council members about his meeting with Whitmer.

"I think its finally getting out to the public that this thing is more in Aaron's court than in ours," Councilman Chris Roberts said, who confirmed he hadn't heard from Broussard.

"I would have to believe that the meetings he's having are for a purpose," Roberts continued. "Whatever I'm assuming is based on speculation. But I wouldn't be surprised if something would happen."